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Beta

Beta

43 Episodes • By Wisconsin Public Radio • www.wpr.org/programs/beta...
"BETA" features playful and provocative profiles of the people and works changing our world through arts, pop culture and technology. The program is hosted by Doug Gordon and airs Saturdays at 9 a.m. on the NPR News & Classical Network and 11 a.m. on The Ideas Network.
Society & Culture
Beta
Beta
@beta
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Episode 522: Jann Arden, Julia Duffy, Pink Floyd's 'The Dark Side of the Moon'
Singer/songwriter Jann Arden talks about her hit Can... more
Mar 18 2023 50m
The Timeless Appeal of Classic Music
Chapter 1 9 mins
Wisdom in Failure, Aging
Chapter 2 5 mins
Jan Arden & Peter Scallari
Chapter 3 6 mins
Julia Duffy's Iconic Roles and Memoir
Chapter 4 18 mins
Julia Duffy's Career
Chapter 5 8 mins
Exploring Pink Floyd's Music
Chapter 6 1 min
Exploring Lunacy With John Kruth
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Episode 521: Hanna Flint, 'Deadwood,' John Armstrong
Film critic and broadcaster Hanna Flint joins us to ... more
Mar 9 2023 50m
Exploring the Western Genre With Deadwood
Chapter 1 14 mins
Deadwood Legacy in Film
Chapter 2 14 mins
The Making of Deadwood
Chapter 3 8 mins
Masculinity, Memory, and Deadwood
Chapter 4 11 mins
The Enduring Legacy of the Modernettes
Chapter 5 1 min
The Power of Beta
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Episode 520: Netflix's 'Full Swing,' Gabrielle Zevin, Waco tragedy
Executive Producer Chad Mumm takes us behind the sce... more
Feb 25 2023 50m
Video Games and Storytelling
Chapter 1 10 mins
Exploring the Intricacies of Professional Golf
Chapter 2 12 mins
Unfiltered Access to Professional Golfers
Chapter 3 9 mins
Friendship and Success Through Gaming
Chapter 4 17 mins
Exploring the Waco Tragedy
Chapter 5 57 sec
High Praise for Beta Team Members
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Episode 519: 'Skinamarink,' Barbara Brandon-Croft, Jordan Harper
Filmmaker Kyle Edward Ball talks about his indie vir... more
Feb 11 2023 50m
Writing TV and Fiction
Chapter 1 9 mins
Exploring Horror Through Film
Chapter 2 4 mins
Creative Collaboration and the Internet
Chapter 3 12 mins
Skinner Merink
Chapter 4 10 mins
Impact of Coming on Comics
Chapter 5 3 mins
Black Bag Publicist Role
Chapter 6 11 mins
Exploring Los Angeles Writing
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Episode 518: Brian Posehn, S. A. Cosby, "Brainwashed: Sex-Camera-Power"
Indie comedian Brian Posehn joins us to discuss his ... more
Jan 28 2023 51m
The Power of Language
Chapter 1
Exploring Comedy With Brian
Chapter 2 3 mins
The Power of Storytelling
Chapter 3 12 mins
Writing Action Scenes
Chapter 4 8 mins
Objectifying Media on Women
Chapter 5 10 mins
Exploring the Male Gaze in Cinema
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Episode 517: Bill Oakley, Black Country Music, Women Who Dressed As Men
Emmy-winning TV writer and producer Bill Oakley join... more
Jan 14 2023 1h 30m
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Episode 516: Rich Hall, "Too Soon: Comedy After 9/11," Ian Nathan on Christopher Nolan
Comedian Rich Hall talks about a lifetime of groundb... more
Dec 17 2022 50m
Laughing in the Face of Tragedy
Chapter 1 9 mins
The Origin Story Behind SNICKhles
Chapter 2 14 mins
Too Soon
Chapter 3 7 mins
Axis of Evil Comedy Tour
Chapter 4 5 mins
Too Soon Comedy After Nine Eleven
Chapter 5 13 mins
Inversion of Time in Nolan's Films
Chapter 6 1 min
The Concept of Beta
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Episode 515: Michael Imperioli, 'Pepsi Where's My Jet?', Wendy Wimmer
The Sopranos” actor Michael Imperioli on his debut n... more
Dec 10 2022 50m
Michael Peis
Chapter 1 14 mins
The Perfume Burned His Eyes
Chapter 2 9 mins
The Perfume That Burned His Eyes
Chapter 3 8 mins
The Legacy of John Leonard
Chapter 4 12 mins
Roller Skating Rink in Strange Magic
Chapter 5 5 mins
Wendy Wimmer on Entry Level Fiction
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Episode 514: Jena Friedman, The History of Cheap Trick, "Blazing Saddles"
Comedian Jena Friedman on her Peacock comedy special... more
Nov 19 2022 51m
Jenna Friedman
Chapter 1 13 mins
SIREN SHRUBB Company Creates Space for WPR
Chapter 2 4 mins
The Triumph of Cheap Trick
Chapter 3 10 mins
Cheap Trick
Chapter 4 7 mins
The Definitive History of Cheap Trick
Chapter 5 14 mins
The Making of Blazing Saddles
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Episode 513: George Saunders, Kevin Nealon, "GoldenEye 007"
Short story master George Saunders talks about his l... more
Nov 5 2022 50m
I Exaggerate My Brushes With Fame
Chapter 1 4 mins
The Evolution of George Saunders' Work
Chapter 2 5 mins
Short Story Collection Reflects Writer's World View
Chapter 3 4 mins
Starting With a Crazy Idea
Chapter 4 12 mins
The Importance of the Literary Imagination
Chapter 5 5 mins
Remembering Lauram Baccall and Humphrey Bogart
Chapter 6 4 mins
The Innovative GoldenEye 007 Video Game
Chapter 7 12 mins
The Making of GoldenEye 007
Chapter 8 1 min
The End of Beta
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Episode 512: Penn Jillette, Ling Ma, SST Records
Magician Penn Jillette talks about his novel, “Rando... more
Oct 22 2022 50m
The Disen Man
Chapter 1 11 mins
Rolling the Dice on Life
Chapter 2 14 mins
Importance of Relationships
Chapter 3 12 mins
Rise and Fall of SST Records
Chapter 4 12 mins
SST's Role in Establishing the Touring Circuit
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Episode 511: Sheng Wang, Leyna Krow, Steven Hyden on Pearl Jam
Comedian Sheng Wang on his Netflix special, “Sweet a... more
Oct 8 2022 1h 30m
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Episode 510: Frankie Quiñones, Sandra Newman, Steve Almond
Comedian Frankie Quiñones talks about his hilarious ... more
Sep 17 2022 49m
Chapter 1 8 mins
The Power of Humor
Chapter 2 11 mins
This Fool
Chapter 3 13 mins
The Men' by Doug Gordon
Chapter 4 16 mins
Criticism of the NFL's Treatment of Women
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Episode 222: This Isn't Plans 1 Through 8
Charles Yu tackles racism through the lens of a fict... more
Aug 27 2022 49m
Chapter 1 8 mins
Racial Stereotypes of Asians in Media
Chapter 2 8 mins
Interior Chinatown' by Charles Yu
Chapter 3 11 mins
Dr. Cats
Chapter 4 10 mins
The Life and Music of Niklo
Chapter 5 9 mins
Nick Lo's Life and Music
Chapter 6 36 sec
The Concept of a Radio Show
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Episode 419: Laurie Kilmartin, Jami Attenberg, The Monkees' 'Head'
Comedian Laurie Kilmartin joins us to talk about her... more
Aug 13 2022 1h 30m
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Episode 509: Cristela Alonzo, Sloane Crosley, Caryn Rose on Patti Smith
Comedian Cristela Alonzo stays true to herself in he... more
Aug 6 2022 50m
Sloan on Writing
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Episode 418: Jena Friedman, Adam Nayman on David Fincher, Bushwick Bill
Jena Friedman on combining comedy with journalism in... more
Jul 30 2022 51m
Dark Humor in Tragic Stories
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Episode 508: James Burrows, Tom Perrotta, Erotic Thrillers
Director James Burrows joins us to talk about making... more
Jul 23 2022 50m
The Weight of History.
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Episode 417: Charlie Berens, Jackie Kashian, HBO
"Manitowoc Minute" mastermind Charlie Berens teaches... more
Jul 16 2022 1h 30m
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Episode 507: Josh Gondelman, Chelsea Bieker, Jon Mooallem
Today, comedian Josh Gondelman joins us to talk abou... more
Jul 9 2022 50m
The Story is Wild.
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Episode 416: Stevie Van Zandt, John Prine, Guillermo del Toro
The legendary rocker Stevie Van Zandt talks about ma... more
Jul 2 2022 50m
Weird Destiny
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Episode 506: Julie Nolke, Van Lathan, Author on Talk Talk's Mark Hollis
Comedian Julie Nolke on her YouTube success and her ... more
Jun 25 2022 50m
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Episode 415: Shea Serrano, Anthony Bourdain, Alix Ohlin
The one and only Shea Serrano talks about hip-hop...... more
Jun 18 2022 51m
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Episode 505: Michelle Zauner, 'George Carlin's American Dream,' Dan Chaon
Michelle Zauner on her heartbreaking debut memoir, “... more
Jun 11 2022 50m
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Episode 414: Elvira, Folk Horror, "Shaun of the Dead"
Cassandra Peterson shows us the woman behind the Que... more
Jun 4 2022 51m
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